Delhi govt denies ‘missing’ of 1984 anti-Sikh riot files

New Delhi :The Delhi government today denied reports that the files related to 1984 anti-Sikh riots had gone “missing”, while attacking the Centre over delay in submission of its findings on the carnage.

“The report of missing files is wrong. Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain held a meeting with his officials yesterday and discussed the matter,” said a senior Delhi government official.

The government’s reaction comes after BJP accused the AAP dispensation of not being serious on the issue.
Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay had alleged that the “missing” files indicated that someone in Delhi Secretariat was trying to “save” Congress leaders whose names must be in the file.

The issue came to the fore after a Delhi government circular claimed that the 1984 Sikh riots files were “untraceable”.

Defending the circular, a government official said “untraceable does not mean that the files had gone missing. Soft copy of the same is available”.

“A section of media is running wrong reports that the files related to 1984 riots had gone missing. The party wants to make it clear that no SIT was formed by AAP because the Centre, a day before Arvind Kejriwal took oath as the Chief Minister for the second time, had announced a committee under former IPS officer Pradeep Asthana,” senior AAP leader Ashutosh said.

Jarnail Singh, AAP’s Rajouri Garden MLA and its prominent Sikh face, also alleged that over an year has passed, but the central government’s committee formed to probe the riots has not come up with a report.

“It’s been a year that the investigation is going on. Around 230-232 cases require reopening or re-trial. CBI and the Delhi Police, working under the Centre, have not been able to arrest Jagdish Tyler, main accused in the case,” Singh said.